While browsing through one of the model magazines - I think it may be the Sept 2014 issue of Diecast Collectors I saw a letter to the editor from someone who had found a 1/43 RWD Starlet model form the early 1980's within a Japanese partworks issue. It did have those horrible wing mirrors but was the correct shape for the Starlets , some of which are still being used in Irish rallies. I am looking for one as this model was used as the base for one of Eamonn McAleenan's "creations" that I sat in for the Cork 20 rally many years ago. I have not had any success on ebay but I may be looking in the wrong places.ThanksJames

They are rare as hens teeth and you will pay a bit as the road car model i managed to get cost me £50.Stripped and arches onmce done and all parts made to be cast too will be done as kits. This is the round headlight version so that needs sorting but small prob

I think there may be 1 or 2 here on Yahoo! Japan auctions:http://auctions.search.yahoo.co.jp/search?p=1%2F43%E3%80%80%E3%83%88%E3%83%A8%E3%82%BF%E3%80%80%E3%82%B9%E3%82%BF%E3%83%BC%E3%83%AC%E3%83%83%E3%83%88&auccat=2084260113&aq=-1&oq=&ei=UTF-8&slider=0&tab_ex=commerce

I've been using http://buyee.jp/ to bid on Yahoo! Japan auctions. There's a lot of extra charges but sometimes it's the only place I've found models I'm looking for.

As far as I know you cannot bid on Yahoo! Japan auctions (and therefore cannot contact sellers) outside of Japan. You need to use a proxy bidding service of which there are many but I have used Buyee without issue for over a year now. Even then you will not be able to contact the seller since you are not actually bidding - the proxy service is.

The main thing to keep in mind is there are a number of charges you need to factor into determining the total price (http://buyee.jp/help/yahoo/guide/fees): Item Price + Buyee Service Fee + Payment Fee + Domestic Shipping Fee + International Shipping Fee + Consumption Tax

Note that this is not unique to Buyee as all proxy bidding services will have their fees.

It is definitely cheaper to buy from Japanese sellers on eBay or from online model shops that ship internationally. A few I have used follow. The first 3 are good sources for new releases.http://www.p-4.ne.jp/index.php?sl=ENhttp://www.super-road.jphttp://www.amiami.com/top/page/c/car_models.html